Go! And See His Invisible Qualities - Romans 1:20 Series

Go! And See His Invisible Qualities - Romans 1:20 (NLT)

Introduction: Seeing the Invisible

Have you ever stood on a clear night and gazed up at the stars? Thousands of points of light scattered across a black canvas, each one a reminder that we are part of something so much greater than ourselves. Or have you ever held a newborn baby—tiny fingers, perfect eyelashes, the first breath—and felt overwhelmed by wonder?

Romans 1:20 (NLT) declares: "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God."

Paul is saying that God has left His fingerprints on creation. His invisible qualities are visible through what He has made. Today, we will explore what this means for us, how it reveals our need for a Saviour, and how it calls us to live as witnesses of His glory.

1. Creation Declares the Creator

Paul writes the book of Romans to believers in Rome, a city filled with idols and false gods. Here, in the first chapter, he is establishing that all humanity is accountable before God because His reality is evident in creation itself.

The Greek word translated "invisible" (???at??, aoratos) means unseen, hidden from the eye but not unknowable. Paul says God's eternal power (??d???, aidios) and divine nature (?e??t??, theiotes) are clearly perceived—intellectually apprehended—through creation.

Psalm 19:1 (NLT) echoes this: "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."

Application for Today - we live surrounded by technology and distractions. Yet creation still whispers—and sometimes shouts—of God’s glory. The intricate patterns of a snowflake, the DNA in a single cell, the vastness of galaxies—all are sermons without words.

John Piper said: “The universe is not about us. It’s about displaying the greatness of God.”

That challenges us: Do we look at the world and see random chance, or do we look and see the majesty of our Creator?

Consider a painting by Rembrandt. No one looks at it and says, “What a coincidence that the colours arranged themselves this way.” We know there is an artist. How much more when we see the artistry of mountains, oceans, and life itself!

2. The Witness of Creation Leaves Us Without Excuse

Paul continues in Romans 1:20: “So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

The Greek word "anapologetos" means "without a defence." Creation is God’s testimony, and to deny it is to suppress the truth.

Acts 14:17 (NLT) says: “But he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”

Many in our culture reject God, claiming insufficient evidence. But the problem is not the lack of evidence—it is a lack of willingness to acknowledge Him. The heart, hardened by sin, prefers independence to submission.

Tim Keller wrote: “If there is a God who created you, then you owe Him everything. But our hearts are bent on being our own masters.”

This is why the Gospel is so vital—because the witness of creation alone cannot save us, it only shows us we are guilty and in need of salvation.

Imagine standing before a judge accused of theft. The evidence is overwhelming: fingerprints, video footage, eyewitnesses. You cannot say, “I didn’t know stealing was wrong.” In the same way, creation is the evidence of God’s existence and our accountability.

3. Creation Points Us to the Cross

Creation shows us there is a Creator, but it does not reveal how to be reconciled to Him. For that, we need special revelation—the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:15–16 (NLT) tells us: "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth."

Jesus is the One through whom all things were made. The same Jesus who hung the stars in the sky also hung on a cross for your sins and mine.

The Gospel Presentation:

Humanity, though surrounded by the evidence of God’s power, turned to sin. We chose rebellion. But God, in His love, sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross, bearing our sin and shame. He was buried, and on the third day, He rose again, conquering sin, death, and hell.

Romans 5:8 (NLT): "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

If creation declares His power, the cross declares His love.

Charles Stanley once said: “God’s creation is magnificent, but His redemption is miraculous.”

This is the heart of the Gospel: the Creator became our Redeemer.